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Tourism contributed close to two billion dollars to Tunisia’s foreign currency income in 2001, equivalent to 20 percent of the North African state’s total foreign currency revenues, reported Xinhua. The sector’s input is expected to reach $3.1 billion during the next five years.

Ministry sources revealed that the tourism sector needs $1.5 billion worth of investments in order to reach a 45,000-hotel bed capacity by 2007.

Despite the expansion initiative, Tunisia’s tourism industry has been sagging, due in part to the severe impact of September 11. Tourism receipts fell to $181.6 million in the first three months of this year, representing a 23 percent slide from proceeds of $233.1 million in the equivalent period of 2001. — (menareport.com)